The New York judge presiding over former President Trump’s criminal trial has once again denied Trump’s request for recusal due to concerns over the judge’s daughter’s work with Democratic clients. This is the third time Judge Juan Merchan has refused to step down, maintaining that there is no conflict of interest and that he will continue to oversee the case through sentencing in September.
Merchan described Trump’s arguments as repetitive and lacking substance, dismissing them in his latest ruling. Like other judges and prosecutors Trump has criticized, Merchan has been the target of the former president’s repeated attacks on social media and in public statements.
Judge Juan Merchan denies Trump’s third request for recusal over concerns about his daughter’s work
Trump’s legal team has focused on the fact that Merchan’s daughter, Loren, works for Authentic, a progressive digital agency that has served Democratic clients, including President Biden and Vice President Harris.
In response to the recusal request, Authentic’s founder clarified in a letter that Harris’s current presidential campaign is not a client and that Loren has minimal involvement with political clients.
Despite Merchan rejecting recusal motions before Trump’s trial in the spring, Trump’s attorneys renewed their effort after Biden decided not to run for reelection and Harris became the Democratic nominee.
Trump’s attorneys argued that Merchan’s daughter’s connection to Harris could be a source of financial and professional benefits. However, the judge dismissed this claim, citing guidance from a state ethics advisory committee that stated recusal was not necessary.
Trump responded to the ruling by criticizing his gag order, calling it oppressive. Judge Merchan had previously faced scrutiny for making small political contributions, which are against New York ethics rules for judges, but these donations occurred before he was assigned to Trump’s case.
A Trump campaign spokesperson accused the judge of bias and argued that he should have recused himself long ago. The trial, which Merchan oversaw, resulted in Trump being found guilty on all 34 counts earlier this year.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office, led by Alvin Bragg, accused Trump of falsifying business records to hide damaging information from voters during his 2016 campaign. Prosecutors have dismissed Trump’s recusal attempts as baseless and without merit, emphasizing that no new evidence justifies a different outcome.
Trump’s sentencing is set for September 18, though he has vowed to appeal if the case proceeds. The judge is expected to issue a ruling on the Supreme Court’s presidential immunity decision before sentencing.
